012819prHARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Minutes of Planning Retreat
January 28, 2019
The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in work session on Monday, January 28, 2019,
In the CCCC Health Sciences Building Multipurpose Room 101, 51 Red Mulberry Way,
Lillington, North Carolina.
Members present:
Staff present:
Gordon Springle, Chairman
Howard Penny, Vice Chairman
Barbara McKoy, Commissioner
Joe Miller, Commissioner
Abe Elmore, Commissioner
Paula Stewart, County Manager
Kimberly Honeycutt, Finance Officer
Margaret Regina Wheeler, Clerk
Coley Price, Assistant County Manager
Brian Haney, Assistant County Manager
Ashely Deans, Community Relations Coordinator
Allen Coats, Deputy Finance Officer
Chairman Springle called the meeting to order at 9:00 am. The Harnett County Board of
Education will join commissioners for the morning sessions and lunch.
The following agenda was before the Board:
D Financial Presentation, Davenport & Company
D NW Harnett Small Area Study, Stewart Engineering
D Group Discussion
D Growth Pressures
D Lunch
D Recess/break
D Year in Review
D Legislative Priorities
D Budget Kickoff
D Wrap-up/Adjourn
Chairman Lemons called the Board of Education meeting to order. The following Board of
Education members and staff joined commissioners:
- Jason Lemons, Chairman
- Don R. Godfey, Vice Chairman
- Vivian Bennett, Board member
Bill Morris, Board member
Aaron Fleming, Superintendent
Brooks Matthews Deputy Superintendent
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Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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Tammy McGill, Chief Finance Officer
Brookie Ferguson, Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum & Instruction
Jermaine White, Interim Assistant Superintendent, Student Support & Services
Monica Thompson, Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources
Chairman Springle led the Pledge of Allegiance and Chairman Lemons gave the invocation.
Mitch Brigulio, Davenport & Company, presented the following discussion materials for Harnett
County:
• Credit Rating Overview
• General Fund Balance
• Existing Tax Supported Debt Profile
o Key Financial Ratios and Financial Policies
o Debt Affordability
• Capital Funding Analysis
o Key Financial Ratios and Financial Policies
o Debt Affordability
• Department of Public Utilities Debt and Financial Profile
• Solid Waste Debt and Financial Profile
Mr. Price addressed the group. Harnett County Development Services Director Mark Locklear
presented information about residential and commercial growth in Harnett County. He also
shared information about new subdivision proposals in northwest Harnett. Jake Petrosky with
Stewart Engineering presented an overview of the Northwest Harnett County Small Area Plan.
Staff and Mr. Petrosky responded to questions and discussion continued.
Chairman Lemon presented the following Board of Education's Summary of Immediate Facility
Needs approved by the Harnett County Board of Education on January 25, 2019:
Replacement for Erwin Elementary School
Northwest Harnett Elementary School
- New Middle School South of Lillington
- New High School South of Lillington
The total approximate cost for these immediate needs total $153,273,096.00 in 2019 and
$160,936,750.00 in 2020 with approximate 5% increase.
Commissioners questioned building a new school in an area where there is no growth.
Discussions continued regarding Erwin Elementary, Gentry, capacity in nearby schools, Buies
Creek Elementary, Campbell University and the urgent need to purchase land for any new
schools. Commissioners asked about a possible year-round school calendar, noting parents need
to realize they can raise taxes to build new schools or look at alternatives. Commissioners asked
the School Board to think outside of the box; to look at all possible alternatives, anything that
can be done to spend money in a better way.
Vice Chairman Godfrey moved that the Erwin elementary school project and the Northwest
Harnett elementary school project be the Board of Education's priorities at this time. Mr. Morris
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seconded the motion for discussion purposes. Discussion among the Board of Education
members continued and the original motion was clarified to include demolition of the old Erwin
School and build a new school on its present location. The motion passed.
Superintendent Fleming responded that ORAD should be able to recommend the best areas to
build new schools in Harnett County in April. He also said the School Board will be seeking
additional funding for technology, Harnett County School's salary study as well as additional
funds for their local supplement.
The School Board adjourned. The Board of Commissioners recessed their meeting and the two
boards ate lunch together before the Board of Education members and staff left the meeting.
Administration staff presented a "Year in Review" video.
Mr. Haney reviewed Harnett County's 2019-20 Legislative Priorities and sought direction in
preparation for the upcoming legislative luncheon. Staff also shared details regarding Governor
Cooper's upcoming tomorrow to Harnett County.
Mrs. Stewart led the 2019-20 budget kickoff discussion. She noted CIPs had been submitted by
departments and staff will start meeting with them in the next month to discuss their requests.
She said the first budget work session with commissioners will be on April 9, 2019. Mrs.
Stewart mentioned new items in the upcoming budget including CCCC Harnett Promise
Program, on-going SRO/SSO Program, the new terminal building at the Jetport, the new
Governmental Complex South Building and 2021 Reappraisal.
Mrs. Stewart asked if the Board would like to set a funding formula for the Nonprofit
Committee. Commissioner Miller said the Nonprofit Committee has already set the funding
amount at $50,000 excluding senior centers which are automatically funded in the budget.
Regarding the 2021 Reappraisal, Mrs. Stewart said it will cost close to $2 million to outsource
the whole reappraisal. She said staff has already done an RFP for the reval and we are currently
waiting on a report from David Baker with NCACC. Mrs. Stewart reported that 25 other
counties are scheduled to do revals for 2021 and only nine counties are doing revals for 2022.
Discussion among commissioners and staff continued resulting in the consensus to delay the
reval for another year and to outsource it out to have full accurate re -measurements done of
commercial and residential.
Mrs. Stewart continued noting additional items in the upcoming budget include:
additional costs for security issues and staffing needs for the Board of Elections regarding
homeland security;
library consolidation costs if the Board decides to move forward with this project; and
possible additional employee benefits which could include an increase in the employee
pay plan percentage, adding part-time people to the performance pay plan, or considering
a one-time bonus.
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Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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Commissioners asked staff to provide numbers for these additional items and options.
Commissioner Miller also asked about the possibility of not charging employees for being
transported to the hospital from their place of work.
Mrs. Stewart also talked about the possibility of offering bereavement leave to employees for
immediate family members, the County donating time to the shared leave pool or allowing
floating holidays. Chairman Springle asked about the option of giving a COLA in lieu of
increasing the employee pay plan percentage. Mr. Haney clarified that the performance pay plan
moves an employee through their paygrade however a COLA will adjust the entire grade table.
Staff recommended that the Board consider an occasional COLA to keep the grade table up.
Mrs. Stewart responded that every employee has not gotten an annual increase through the
performance pay plan. Commissioners shared concerns about department heads and supervisors
being adequately trained to perform performance reviews as well as undeserving employees
receiving annual pay plan increases.
Commissioner Elmore moved to adjourn the meeting at 2:21 pm. Commissioner Miller
seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
Regi ,:� eeler, Clerk
January 28, 2019 Planning Retreat Minutes
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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